Quality Assurance Manager

Summary/Objective

This position coordinates all Plant Food Safety and Quality activities for Savencia Cheese USA LLC. This position is responsible for ensuring that the production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality standards. This person also has responsibility for communicating quality results and the transfer of knowledge to the workforce. 

The position follows standard work methods and practices safe work habits to ensure production is as efficient and safe as possible.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

·      Responsible for product safety and quality while meeting Company and regulatory standards and has oversight responsibility for a continuous quality    improvement program that includes quality control and quality assurance.

·         Manages the operation of the plant laboratory, including ensuring supplies and equipment are available.

·         Ensures product safety, regulatory compliance, and compliance with company standards as stated in the Quality Manual, Laboratory Manual, and               Company Policy and Programs by inspecting and auditing the product, process and all systems.

·         Helps drive Continuous Improvement efforts in product quality/performance and process optimization. 

·         Provides leadership in coaching, education and training of plant employees (new hires) and refresher training for GMPs and PRPs. 

·         Active member of HACCP/FSP team.

·         Provides Customer inputs into portals provided as required, and views/monitors postings to ensure all requirements are met.

·         Reviews all product labels used in the facility and ensures adherence to regulatory and Company standards.

·         Maintains or ensures the maintenance of the all QA related Database Systems for the facility (LIMS, etc.).

·         Ensures adherence to appropriate regulations and Company standards for ingredient and finished product quality. 

·         Supervises the appropriate chemical, bacteriological, sensory and utilization tests on raw materials and finished products.   

·         Communicates quality metric and inspection results to appropriate Supervisors and others in leadership positions including, but not limited to daily,                weekly or monthly KPI reporting to Corporate.

·         Ensures that proper sanitation procedures are utilized and that adequate sanitation tests are performed; provides “troubleshooting” efforts in the event   of sanitation system failure. 

·         Develops and maintains documentation of all required quality tests and activities.

·         Leads local, state, customer/third party, group and federal audits and inspections. 

·         Responsible for QA lab budgetary control, including labor and “Cost of Quality” utilizing Continuous Improvement techniques.

·         Ensures adherence to all contract packaging quality requirements.

·         Leads by example with the Savencia Cheese USA Code of Ethics.  This includes following Company policies, standards and specifications.

·         Daily tasting, evaluating product holds, and product releases.

Competencies

Supervisory Responsibility

This position manages employees in the Quality lab and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of the employees within the department.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in an office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The physical demands of an office position include mostly sitting and working at a computer.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

This position requires up to 10% travel.